Contact thimble device



June 29, 1965 B. F. BURR 3,191,824

CONTACT THIMBLE DEVICE Filed Nov. 26, 1962 FIG.1 2

BM? Fraudm BY W United States Patent 3,191,824 CONTACT THIMBLE DEVICE Bessie Frances Burr, 6958 N. Palafox Highway, Pensacola, Fla.

Filed Nov. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 239,911 2 Claims. (Cl. 223101) This invention relates to thimbles or other sewing devices, and to the protection for fingers and hands having physical problems, and other possible indutrial or household uses.

The primary object of this invention is to provide hand sewing comfort, convenience, protection from eye and needle injury and speed sewing activity for the user with deformed fingers which cannot be fitted with known t-hirnbles adapted to be fitted over the end of the thimble finger. Crooked fingers, enlarged knuckles and other numerous deformities can be protected with my device. The construction and cont-act feature permits it to be adjusted and anchored on the hand or finger at any desired location, for convenience, comfort and protection from eye and needle injury when pressure is applied.

Although the primary object of this invention is the provision of a contact thimble device for abnormal fingers, however normal fingers will also benefit. This device will not be constantly slipping 01f the end of thimble finger, but will remain securely anchored until removed by the user. Finger nails which are too long may remain intact while this contact thimble is Worn.

While this invention is designed primarily for sewing protection, this device may be used for other purposes to provide protection from pressure on fingers, such as for pushing thumb tacks into place; pushing pins through several plies of material such as cloth and paper; also creasing cloth and paper may be quickly and comfortably accomplished by sliding the device with applied pressure along the folded edge as it lies on a flat surface.

It will explain the invention with reference to the ac companying drawing, which illustrates several practical embodiments thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of my novel contact thimble device;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing my novel contact thimble device applied to the middle finger of the users hand;

FIG. 5 is a similar perspective view showing the device applied to the thumb of the users hand.

As shown, the construction of this invention embraces a thin shallow, slightly convex disk-like member having a slightly elevated outer peripheral flange 1a serving to guard and prevent the eye end of the sewing needle from sliding or slipping off the disk 1 from any position in event the indentations in the top of the disk fail to engage the eye end of the needle when pressure is applied. The top of the disk 1 Within the flange 1a is raised with its upper face slightly convex and provided with closely spaced indentations or pits 1b so that the eye end of the ice needle will anchor in the indentations or pits 1b to prevent the needle from slipping off the portion 1b when pressure is applied to the needle. The flange 1a is slightly grooved annularly as at 10 (FIG. 2) and serves to keep the eye end of the needle from sliding entirely off the disk 1 from any position. The disk 1 is preferably made of nylon, plastic, metal or any other suitable material, or combinations of suitable materials; and the underside of the disk 1 is slightly concave to correspond with the outer convex face. The underside of disk 1 is coated with a suitable adhesive 3 (FIG. 2) having a retaining adhesive quality, whereby the disk 1 may be directly removably applied to a finger of the users hand, if desired. The disk 1 is separate from, but may also be mounted on or built directly onto any suitable flexible or semi-soft length of adhesive tape 2 of suitable material. To the underside of disk 1 adhesive material 3 is applied, to provide definite anchorage on any desired location to suit the convenience and comfort of the user. Suitable adhesive with retaining adhesive quality to anchor the contact thimble device will provide long and continued service; and a range of sizes for comfortable fitting may be made.

As shown, the disk-like member 1 may be mounted by adhesive 3 on a short length of adhesive tape 2 forming ears of flexibility to anchor around or lie flat on the surface of the finger or hand of the user when sewing, or upon other surfaces when applied to industrial or other uses. In FIG. 4, the disk 1 is shown as anchored, with the tape 2 on the middle finger of the users hand to apply pressure on the eye end of the needle, the disk being located to suit the comfort and convenience .of the user. Obviously the disk 1 may be so located without utilizing the tape 2 as heretofore mentioned. In FIG. 5 the disk 1 with or Without the tape 2 may be applied to the users thumb for use in applying thumb tacks or the like, but may be similarly located in different positions for other uses.

Thus my contact thimble may be adjusted to deformed fingers, and enlarged knuckles, insuring comfort, convenience and protection from needle injury when sewing by hand. When fingers deviate from the normal a regular thimble is impossible to wear. Also long finger nails need not be cut to enjoy the comfort and protection afforded by my contact needle device.

The contact thimble device is designed in' a manner and style to adhere directly to the surface to which it is applied. It can be located in any desired location and position on the fingers, or other object for comfort, speed and protection to the user.

While the description and drawing depicts my present conception of this invention, the right is reserved to resort to such changes in construction and materials as come within the scope of the claims and the scope of its use in industrial or any other needs to which its use may be adapted.

I claim:

1. A contact thimble device'comprising a rigid circular disk-like member having an outer peripheral flange provided with an annularly grooved upper face, and having a raised central portion within the flange provided with closely spaced indentations, the underside of the number being slightly concave; and an adhesive having inherent adhesive-retaining qualities applied to the under- 3 6 side of the member for retaining the member positioned on a finger or other support.

2. In a device as set forth in claim 1, and said adhesive comprising a short length of adhesive tap forming flexible ears to conform with the shape of the finger or other support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,637,850 5/53 i/Vatermann 2,918,062 12/59 SCllOll 3,062,212 11/62 Kravitz et a1. 3,119,390 1/64 Levitt 5 FOREIGN PATENTS 380 1/04 Great Britain. 10,267 6/89 Great Britain.

10 J ORDAN' FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. DAVID J. VILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A CONTACT THIMBLE DEVICE COMPRISING A RIGID CIRCULAR DISK-LIKE MEMBER HAVING AN OUTER PERIPHERAL FLANGE PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULARLY GROOVED UPPER FACE, AND HAVING A RAISED CENTRAL PORTION WITHIN THE FLANGE PROVIDED WITH CLOSELY SPACED INDENTATIONS, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE NUMBER BEING SLIGHTLY CONCAVE; AND AN ADHESIVE HAVING INHERENT ADHESIVE-RETAINING QUALITIES APPLIED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MEMBER FOR RETAINING THE MEMBER POSITIONED ON A FINGER OR OTHER SUPPORT. 